Chapter 11

The gray smoke that rose periodically from the incinerator had always been an eyesore.

“What a waste.”

“Pardon? What is, my Lady?”

“Oh… it’s nothing.”

She muttered to herself without realizing, but May suddenly popped her head in front of Asla.

When Asla opened her eyes wide in surprise, May chuckled with a sheepish smile.

“Were you perhaps talking about that dress you sent to the laundry? That one was really beyond saving! Tar had soaked deeply into the inner chest area… I went to check last night just in case, but the head of the laundry practically had a heart attack.”

“I see.”

Asla hadn’t been talking about that particular outing dress, but since May was so excitedly rattling on, she decided to let it go.

May continued speaking.

“But the head of laundry said the dress looked so white and divine that it felt wrong to throw it out. He told me to deal with it myself, so I brought it back. And just as I did, the master happened to come by the room, so I asked him what to do with it.”

Asla cut her off, hurriedly asking,

“…Enoch came by last night?”

“Yes. He carried you from the sofa to the bed when you fell asleep, my Lady. The two of you were talking, so I thought you were awake… Were you sleep-talking? You didn’t know he came?”

Asla stared blankly at the puzzled May, then rubbed her temple.

So that wasn’t a dream?

‘What did I say last night… No, wait. I—!’

Asla’s face turned pale as the memory of their conversation came flooding back.

“My Lady, are you unwell? Why is your face…”

“Oh, I’m fine.”

Forget calling Enoch an idiot—what mortified her was how she’d complained about not being kissed.

Truly, she wished she could disappear into thin air.

Flustered, Asla fanned herself and quickly changed the subject.

“S-So, did you burn the dress?”

“No, my lady. Once the master confirmed you were asleep, he took it himself. I assume… he threw it away?”

May tilted her head.

There was tar on that dress. It would be quite a hassle if it got on his hands—why take it instead of just tossing it out?

Suddenly, Asla vividly recalled the strange look on Enoch’s face when he had carried her to bed and heard what she’d said.

She buried her face in both hands.

‘The real idiot is you, Asla!’

If she truly had any divine power, she would have gladly used all of it to turn back time.

She desperately wanted to flee far, far away.

At least for now, she had no courage to face Enoch.

He probably thought she was some woman overcome with lust.

But that wasn’t it.

She had said what she said because she loved him—because they were husband and wife, and she wanted to share everything, heart and body.

‘Is that why he didn’t come see me this morning?’

Her heart pounded in her chest.

How petty.

She pouted.

It was embarrassing, sure, but she didn’t think it was something she couldn’t say.

They weren’t divorced yet, after all—such complaints should be fair between a married couple.

Growing resentful of her narrow-minded husband, Asla also didn’t want to see Enoch anymore.

‘Ah, come to think of it…’

Realizing something, Asla slowly lifted her head.

Now that she had left the Ventus estate, she was free to act on her own.

What was the big deal about going to the capital?

She figured she could take care of the divorce petition issue at the High Temple by herself just fine.

‘I can go alone.’

Just then, she noticed May staring at her, smiling sweetly.

Asla offered a sheepish smile and asked, awkwardly, “…What? Is something wrong, May?”

“Oh! I’m so sorry, my Lady. I… I was out of line.”

“No, it’s all right. I just asked because it looked like you had something to say.”

Startled, May bowed deeply in apology, but Asla gently helped her up.

She wasn’t upset at all.

In fact, she felt grateful for such a peaceful stroll with someone as kind as May.

Then May, stealing glances at Asla, slowly began to speak.

“Well… truthfully, it’s been my dream since I was little to see you in person, my Lady.”

“…Me?”

Asla was taken aback by the unexpected confession.

May, looking bashful, tucked her hair behind her ear and continued hesitantly.

“My parents are devout believers, so I’ve received religious education since childhood. But… I wasn’t that interested in doctrine. What fascinated me was the little princess who lived in the Holy Kingdom.”

May glanced nervously at Asla, then lowered her voice.

“Is it terribly blasphemous of me to have longed to see the princess more than the divine?”

“Haha, not at all.”

Asla found May’s words endearing and let out a clear laugh.

‘Well, I was a princess of the Holy Kingdom, but I hated the divine, so who’s really the blasphemous one here?’

May, clearly relieved, nodded enthusiastically.

“The princess with flowing soft pink hair and lovely mint-colored eyes, her beauty radiating with the love of the divine! Ever since I saw the portrait of Your Highness in that sacred white dress of the Holy Kingdom, I’ve been in awe.”

“That’s quite enough.”

The praise was so overwhelming that Asla flushed red and instinctively took a step back.

But May, eyes sparkling, clasped her hands over her chest and grew even more excited.

“In person, you’re even more radiant and beautiful! I feel truly honored to serve you, my Lady. I will devote myself to serving you with all my heart.”

“May… I’m not someone so worthy of honor. The Holy Kingdom has fallen. Please just treat me as an ordinary lady.”

“Oh, come now—who in the Empire thinks of you that way? You really don’t know how many people admire and love you, my Lady.”

May pouted slightly.

Asla couldn’t quite understand it.

Admire her? Love her?

Who exactly? The people of the Empire?

Why would anyone love someone like her, a princess from a fallen kingdom, with no divine power at all?

It was as hard to believe as Robert’s claim that Enoch had fallen for her.

“Our princess—no, my Lady—has been monopolized by the master, but… he seems to be treating you well, at least.”

“He treats me well?”

“…Doesn’t he? Forgive me if I’ve overstepped, my Lady.”

May quickly apologized when she noticed Asla smiling bitterly.

Asla didn’t confirm or deny it. She simply kept walking along the garden path.

There was no need to correct the girl.

The relationship with her husband would be over soon enough, anyway.

That reminded her—shouldn’t she let May know that she and Enoch were about to divorce?

Asla was considering when might be the right time to tell her when she found herself gazing silently at the rear gate at the end of the hotel garden.

“May.”

“Yes, my Lady?”

“You said your parents are devout believers… then you must know where the Dainus Temple is, don’t you?”

“Yes! Of course. My parents still work at the Marquis of Kreuz’s estate and they attend Dainus Temple.”

“Then, would you take me there?”

“Right now?”

May’s eyes widened.

‘Don’t tell me… she’s going to say no?’

Asla suddenly recalled the many maids who had disobeyed her in the past and felt a jolt of fear.

She straightened her back and lifted her chin, trying to appear dignified as she declared, “I have something to look into.”

“Ah, yes. Understood, my Lady. Shall we head out right away? It’s not far. We can easily walk there.  Dainus is known for its safety, so there shouldn’t be any problem.”  

“Then let’s go.”  

As soon as Asla finished speaking, May ran ahead to explain the situation to the guard at the back gate of the hotel.  

Asla followed her slowly, organizing her thoughts as she walked.  

If May recognized her appearance, then the temple’s devotees and  priests would surely recognize her even more easily.  

Even if the Holy Kingdom had fallen, Asla guessed that they wouldn’t be able to refuse the request of its last royal.  

Suddenly, someone came to mind, and her expression brightened.  

‘Come to think of it… there’s a  priest from the Holy Kingdom living in this city.’  

Asla searched her memory.  

A man who had awakened strong divine power at a very young age, and whose ability was so outstanding that the Imperial High Temple coveted him as soon as the Holy Kingdom fell.  

‘But he stubbornly insisted on becoming a  priest in this city instead.’ 

Asla remembered because the city he chose— Dainus—was the closest to the Ventus estate.  

She had been surprised by his decision when she read about it in the papers, but it had been so long ago the memory was fuzzy.  

‘What was his name again…?’  

Still pondering, Asla walked alongside May through the streets, and just as they reached the temple not far from the hotel, she spotted a young man and called out:  

“Ian Hertha!”  

The black-haired man slowly turned toward her, disbelief written all over his face upon hearing her cheerful voice.  

“Princess?”  

It was Ian Hertha—his long black hair brushed gracefully past his neck, his vivid green eyes striking, and his features more delicate and refined than most women. He had once been known for his ethereal beauty.  

As her memory grew clearer, Asla felt her mood lift.  

Had he gone to the capital of the Tulia Empire, he surely would have become the youngest High Priest.  

Instead, he’d buried himself in a remote northern city—an eccentric move, to say the least.  

Even from a distance, Ian was eye-catching in his pure white  priest robes, speaking with someone in front of the temple.  

After politely excusing himself from the conversation, he walked quickly toward Asla.  

May, watching him, blinked rapidly and squealed with excitement.  

“You came to see Priest Ian Hertha!”  

“Do you know of him?”  

“Of course, my Lady! He’s a celebrity here in Dainus. With that divine beauty, it’s like he descended from the heavens—a true messenger of the gods. His divine power is said to be exceptional. Plus, he’s incredibly handsome, so he’s very popular among the ladies.”  

“Handsome, you say?”  

Asla, puzzled by May’s remark, turned her gaze to Ian and tilted her head.  

Objectively speaking, he was aesthetically pleasing—but that was about it for her.  

In her heart, there was only one man she considered truly handsome: Enoch Ventus.  

Because of that, every other man looked more or less the same to her.  

“Princess? Is it really you?”  

Ian stared at her in disbelief, his eyes fixed on her as he asked again.